How often do you start your 3.0si in winter?

M

mt06pete

Member
 Durham
So mine hasnt been getting that much use over winter but ive been starting it every weekend and letting it run up to temperature to avoid any HVA issues. Is this what other peeps do or is once a fortnight or even once a month ok. Cheers.
 
mt06pete said:
So mine hasnt been getting that much use over winter but ive been starting it every weekend and letting it run up to temperature to avoid any HVA issues. Is this what other peeps do or is once a fortnight or even once a month ok. Cheers.
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probably the worse thing you can do. just cover it up and leave it alone on a ctech unltill your ready to start using it again... or just use it.

in answer to your question probably 3-4 times a day. :D
 
Listen to domsz4, all you'll do is kill the battery tbh - you're most likely not putting the power back into the battery that you're using to start it if it's just idling for 10mins.

Driiiiiiiiiiiiiiive it instead :driving: :D
 
Just use it :headbang:

It's a car and doesn't need to be wrapped in cotton wool :thumbsup: Enjoy it, if it's not snowing that is :rofl:
 
I don't have a 3.0si but the longest I leave mine is 3 weeks without taking the ol' girl out and stretching her legs.

She normally gets a good roasting on her outing too ;) to charge the battery, you know...


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Yeah i try to drive it often but we've had plenty of snow and ice up here so im a bit wary of taking it out in those conditions :(
 
I agree its a good idea to turn it over on a regular basis and then leave the car on a battery conditioner in between ,that is if it's on SORN .Also keep the roof mechanism moving and brakes to avoid discs rusting and to avoid flat spots on the tyres . That's what my trusted oily told me anyway .
 
This is the first winter I'm not really using mine as its just ticked over 90K. Ill only start it if I'm going out at the weekend, if not it sits in the garage on charge :D Ive never had any issues with my HVAs so I'm not to worried about that.

I did take it out yesterday for an extended blast on my local roads down to Tenterden, Appledore and across to Battle then home :D Had so much fun I ended up driving to work today and i dont want to go back on the train now :(
 
Mad Professor said:
I agree its a good idea to turn it over on a regular basis and then leave the car on a battery conditioner in between ,that is if it's on SORN .Also keep the roof mechanism moving and brakes to avoid discs rusting and to avoid flat spots on the tyres . That's what my trusted oily told me anyway .
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you've missed the point. battery conditioner yes (although just disconnecting the battery would also work if there wasn't anything that relied on it in the car) but "turning it over" is pointless and does more damage than good. if your worried about the brakes rusting on then chock the wheels. flat spots the wheels i don't know about... the car isn't that heavy and if its going to be long enough to do that damage then put the car on axle stands.

as for the roof it makes no sense to "keep the mechanism moving" ill be screwed then as the roof hasn't been down since September.


i lay up a much more temperamental car than the z for at least 5 months of the year and do sweet bugger all to it. in fact its still got the cow s**t on from august and the engine has spent the last 3 months in bits... it always fires up fine and drives fine.
 
If its not being driven regularly how does letting it idle for 20mins once a week do more damage than good? I thought hva issues arose from the oil draining away from the head resulting in metal on metal action? A battery charger isnt going to much to stop that. When i was looking for a zed i walked away from 3.0si which had a loud tick from the engine so it does happen.
 
jan_tekin said:
This is the first winter I'm not really using mine as its just ticked over 90K. Ill only start it if I'm going out at the weekend, if not it sits in the garage on charge :D Ive never had any issues with my HVAs so I'm not to worried about that.

I did take it out yesterday for an extended blast on my local roads down to Tenterden, Appledore and across to Battle then home :D Had so much fun I ended up driving to work today and i dont want to go back on the train now :(
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You know if you do that again without at least calling to see if I'm up for it, you're dumped :poke:

...though in fairness it'd have to be a Saturday right now...
 
Bing said:
jan_tekin said:
This is the first winter I'm not really using mine as its just ticked over 90K. Ill only start it if I'm going out at the weekend, if not it sits in the garage on charge :D Ive never had any issues with my HVAs so I'm not to worried about that.

I did take it out yesterday for an extended blast on my local roads down to Tenterden, Appledore and across to Battle then home :D Had so much fun I ended up driving to work today and i dont want to go back on the train now :(
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You know if you do that again without at least calling to see if I'm up for it, you're dumped :poke:

...though in fairness it'd have to be a Saturday right now...
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Lol #tangent :D
 
Bing said:
jan_tekin said:
This is the first winter I'm not really using mine as its just ticked over 90K. Ill only start it if I'm going out at the weekend, if not it sits in the garage on charge :D Ive never had any issues with my HVAs so I'm not to worried about that.

I did take it out yesterday for an extended blast on my local roads down to Tenterden, Appledore and across to Battle then home :D Had so much fun I ended up driving to work today and i dont want to go back on the train now :(
Click to expand...

You know if you do that again without at least calling to see if I'm up for it, you're dumped :poke:

...though in fairness it'd have to be a Saturday right now...
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Lol was going to but it wasn't planned, got board at home and decided to go out:)
 
by starting the car and letting it idle all you will do is accelerate any corrosion in the system esp the exhaust. cycling heat in and out of the car is worse than just leaving it. idling most certainly wont heat the cats enough. the battery will lose charge unless you leave it long enough to re charge. as for the oil thing if your really that worried what makes you think that 99% of the oil isn't in the sump within a few days of you tuning it off? JE's round the block thing is better than nothing.

i guess you should also brim the tank to prevent condensation build up, rotate the wheels every week to prevent flat spotting, and put a block on the clutch to stop that from seizing too.

its your car do as you please. i know from my own experience that 3-6 month lay up on a well maintained car will be fine. wash it, chock the wheels and leave out of gear with the hand brake off if you can. when your ready to use it check the levels/pressure make sure the battery is well charged and start it. don't rev the bollocks off it for couple of mins and then drive it away. if its been a long time then an oil change wouldn't go amiss but not strictly needed.
 
jan_tekin said:
Bing said:
jan_tekin said:
This is the first winter I'm not really using mine as its just ticked over 90K. Ill only start it if I'm going out at the weekend, if not it sits in the garage on charge :D Ive never had any issues with my HVAs so I'm not to worried about that.

I did take it out yesterday for an extended blast on my local roads down to Tenterden, Appledore and across to Battle then home :D Had so much fun I ended up driving to work today and i dont want to go back on the train now :(
Click to expand...

You know if you do that again without at least calling to see if I'm up for it, you're dumped :poke:

...though in fairness it'd have to be a Saturday right now...
Click to expand...

Lol was going to but it wasn't planned, got board at home and decided to go out:)
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Only 3 weeks till mine come out. I can't wait :D
 
mt06pete said:
If its not being driven regularly how does letting it idle for 20mins once a week do more damage than good? I thought hva issues arose from the oil draining away from the head resulting in metal on metal action? A battery charger isnt going to much to stop that. When i was looking for a zed i walked away from 3.0si which had a loud tick from the engine so it does happen.
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Mate the oil drains away from the head in a matter of hours, it doesn't take days or weeks to achieve this. You're doing more damage than good as engines don't like to be sat idling doing nothing, it's always advised to drive away straight from cold and not let an engine warm up from idle, many many threads and advice on the internets about this, including your BM manual I expect.

As for the HVA's......I've said it before and I'll say it again, any recorded engine failures or serious malfunctions resulting from this 'tick'?.......... I had an Si, it had the dreaded, god forsaken tick, it ran like a peach, no problems at all. It's an issue blown out of all proportion. The N52 is getting on now, if they were blowing up left right and centre because of HVA's ticking it would be well documented by now. I would be more worried about documented failures like the rear springs and roof motor. Stick your car on a charger and don't start it unless your going to drive it somewhere, pointless otherwise.
 
I leave my 3.0si at a cold but dry storage from November until late Mach or April. Do not have any access to it during the storage time. I fill up the tank, put more air in the tires and take out the battery. Cover it up with a good quality cover leaving a little gap open on the windows for air circulation. This I have done for 5 winters now. When I take it out again it is like a brand new car for me again :) And it sounds like brand new too :P

How about all the cars that the dealerships struggle to sell? Some will stand unused for ages. Does this harm the cars? And how about when they are new. Some are also stored for several months before they are sold at the manufacturer.

I believe that the best is to leave it alone the whole winter and then take a long gentle drive first time after end of storage to get it nice and warm. Then change oil and filter :)

I have had no ticking issues from my engine. And the ODOmeter now says 32.300 miles (52.000km)
 
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